Why Don't More Black Bloggers Work Together?

A quick Google search on the term "blogger beef" brings up over 4000 results! Here are just a few:

• Another day, another blogger fight


• MORE BLOGGER BEEF - SANDRA ROSE VS FREDDYO


• Twitter Beef: Tila Tequila & Perez Hilton


• Sandra Rose vs Angel of Concrete Loop


• The Racist Asian American Music Critics Outreach Program


• Sandra got into a Blogger Beef with Gyant of SOHH a couple of weeks ago...


• Stephen A. Smith vs. Dan Levy and Blogfrica

Now we're not trying to unfairly single out anyone with these examples -- let alone a Black Weblog Award winner (sorry, Sandra!) -- but a quick search on the term brought up these examples, and nearly all of them were between Black bloggers.

Is this indicative of the Black blogging community as a whole? Of course not. But the adage of a few bad apples spoiling the whole bunch could certainly apply here if you're looking at this as a casual observer from the outside. Among those in the Black blogging community, there are certainly stories and anecdotes about who they will and won't work with for any particular reasons. We've heard stories of newer bloggers butting heads with more established bloggers and vice versa. Conversely, there are many successful Black bloggers who work together, collaborate on ideas, and run group blogs (just view any of our Best Group Blog winners).

We also have some articles planned about two black blogging groups which have formed in the past and now faded into the sunset: the Black Bloggers Association and the Afrosphere Bloggers Association.

So rather then speculating on the reasons, let's hear it from you. Leave us a comment and let us know what you think. Is there a reason that Black bloggers aren't working together? If so, how can we overcome it?

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Comments

[FAVE]

I wasn't aware (black) bloggers were beefin' like THAT. My blogging experience has been enhanced with other black bloggers over the years. Since 2004, I've been a part of black blogging collectives from group-writing a fictional series to contributing in podcasting collaborations. I'm currently working with four black blogging veterans on a music site in which we all contribute our ideas constructively.

Unfortunately, I believe part of this dynamic is reflective of our culture's stigma of not genuinely coming together to mobilize a constructive goal that greater than ourselves. I've witnessed black unity and I believe that it is making strides in our society -- but it's naive to think that the "crabs in the barrel" mentality and deep-rooted self hate is not also alive and well in black culture. Thus, blog imitates life.

That's my .02

[dwillwrite]

I am co-signing on Bro. Fave and I give much respect to him and the things he and his group are doing. I am truly proud, delighted--- and amazed.
Why am I amazed? Because his last paragrah is so true. We just don't get it. Every other group can come together (and they have their funk) and have some type of unity but WE always are worried about someone getting ahead. Crabs in a barrel, indeed!
I'm still salty about my hometown of Oakland having two, that's right two black expose last month. It's a crying shame. The founder died and two groups started fighting over the rights to the name and business. Instead of coming together and honoring her, they chose to have two different venues, ON THE SAME WEEKEND at opposite ends of the city. And it was all over the media, not to mention the five or six black newspapers we have. One mainstream headline said, "The Black community is confused." All our dirty laundry out for the whole world to see. As an avid Black Expo attendee and sometimes working the expo through my employer, I chose not to attend either. I am thoroughly disgusted so much so I am composing a letter to the largest black newspaper expressing just how I feel. Such a waste.

[zillz]

I have a lot of reasons why.

But I look at it like this, in the end it all works out how it's supposed to.

[Drew-Shane]

I think sites like this is a great way to help bring the bloggers together. Recognizing the talent among the mass amount of sites, it's something I know for me is motivating. I'm trying to find my way being that I am new black blogger. I've ran into a lot of bloggers who won't even reach back out. I'm not sure if it's my tact or talent to question but I know my worth - let's just say that. If someone takes the time to write an email about networking, I don't see how busy someone can get to not reply, even if it's "go kick rocks, please get off my site." We're still the minority, so we need to embrace each other. I do think our culture can do a better job of embracing each other.

[Mack of Sound-Savvy]

I don't know why black bloggers beef the way they do. Some of the aforementioned arguments seemed to be born out of jealousy and envy. But then again, look at the most successful black blogs: gossip blogs. They THRIVE off sensationalist media that includes celebrity drama, beef, and things of that nature, that reflects what their readers want to see. So naturally one blogger beefing with another brings more hits to both sites. Is it a ploy for traffic? Possibly, but apparently beef is good for business. As for me and my site, I don't give it the time of day, we try to maintain our integrity as a music site and stick to just that, so if it's not beef in the form of a diss track, you won't see it on Sound-Savvy.com and that has ALWAYS been my stance

[blkweblogawards]

What is blogger beef? Why don’t more black bloggers work together instead of against each other? Chime in here: http://cot.ag/cq5n3f" rel="nofollow">http://cot.ag/cq5n3f

This comment was originally posted on http://twitter.com/blkweblogawards/statuses/20316827896" rel="nofollow">Twitter

[Mrs.Tiye]

I think it has a LOT to do with good old fashioned jealousy sometimes and others, an attempt to "corner the market". As a writer for a wedding blog, I was amazed to see how many other black wedding blogs turned their backs on supporting us or allowing us to fairly support them. They would much rather hoard than support, which was sad because we truly wanted to be reciprocal. I mean, ALL this internet, and you can't let another one "steal your shine". Please.

It really boils down to growing the hell up. ESPECIALLY considering that most of our blogs are set up to build and shine a positive light on our people. It really looks stupid for us to not be able to work together, or at best, explain the reasons why we choose not to work with particular people because it holds us back.

[FAVE]

@Drew-Shane: I'm really feeling ProjectDuh and, while I'm no guru, I'm here to encourage, give feedback or just reply on the site!

Beef is good for business, but horrible for prosperity. Does that make sense?

[Drew-Shane]

Thanks for the support! It's much appreciated. Feel free to use my inbox drew@projectduh.com. It's really about support. I totally agree people love to generate hits NOT based on content but irrelevant matters. Then again, don't people love to read "mess"

[Nayland House]

I've tried to connect with other black bloggers, but only had moderate success. I think if a few of us got together we could achieve so much more.

[The Black Blogger Association]

[...] Maurice bbablack blogger associationric landersric riclandriclandContinuing from our earlier post (“Why Don’t More Black Bloggers Work Together?”), this week we are looking into the history of the short-lived Black Bloggers [...]